Solar concentrator

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a novel design for a solar concentrator formed by: a first upper bushing, a second upper bushing, a third upper bushing, a fourth upper bushing, a fifth upper bushing, a sixth upper bushing, a first lower bushing, a second lower bushing, a third lower bushing, a first upper bar, a second upper bar, a third upper bar, a first lower bar, a second lower bar, a third lower bar, a first vertical bar, a second vertical bar, a third vertical bar, a first diagonal bar, a second diagonal bar, a third diagonal bar, a first mirror, a second mirror, a third mirror and a fourth mirror. The solar concentrator is formed by small flat mirrors which can be adjusted using nuts in order to obtain the desired parabolic curvature, thereby providing a higher concentration coefficient.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention consists of a technology to harvest solar energyto be used as an alternative energy source.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are solar concentrators of various types [I]. The most commonlyused are channel, tower-type, and parabolic concentrators. Channelconcentrators do not provide a high concentration coefficient. Thetower-type concentrators use a complex control system and are alsoexpensive. Conventional parabolic concentrators are expensive becausethe parabolic surface comprises two components: a rigid and a flexiblemirror (FIG. 1).

Flexible mirrors are made of a special high-cost glass.

It is proposed to approximate the parabolic surface with a large numberof spherical mirrors [2]. The cost of spherical mirrors is cheaper thanthat of parabolic mirrors though still high.

There is a concentrator that uses a large number of small flat mirrors,which approximate a parabolic surface [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]. This type ofconcentrator was developed by the Australian National University [5] andwas used in the solar power plant “White Cliffs” in Australia. Thisconcentrator device had a dish-shaped holder made of fiberglass. Morethan 2,300 flat mirrors of 100×100 mm are glued to the concave surfaceof the dish (FIG. 2).

This solar concentrator had the peak concentration coefficient of 970suns [5]. Its disadvantages are on one hand the high cost of thefiberglass support and on the other, the glue used to stick the flatmirrors reduces the accuracy of the solar concentrator.

Literature describes the solar concentrator of flat mirrors with supportrods and nodes [3] [4]. The cell support is presented below.

The support device cell of the solar concentrator (FIG. 3) contains thefirst upper bushing (1), the second upper bushing (5) and the thirdupper bushing (7), the first lower bushing (15), the second lowerbushing (14) and the third lower bushing (18), the first upper bar (2),the second upper bar (6) and the third upper bar (4), the first lowerbar (16), the second lower bar (17) and the third lower bar (19), thefirst vertical bar (12), the second vertical bar (13) and the thirdvertical bar (11), the first diagonal bar (8), the second diagonal bar(10) and the third diagonal bar (9), the mirror (3).

The first terminal of the first upper bar is connected to the firstupper bushing, and the second terminal of this bar is connected to thesecond upper bushing. The first terminal of the second upper bar isconnected to the second upper bushing, and the second terminal of thisbar is connected to the third upper bushing. The first terminal of thethird upper bar is connected to the third upper bushing, and the secondterminal of this bar is connected to the first upper bushing. The firstterminal of the first lower bar is connected to the first lower bushing,and the second terminal of this bar is connected to the second lowerbushing. The first terminal of the second lower bar is connected to thesecond lower bushing, and the second terminal of this bar is connectedto the third lower bushing. The first terminal of the third lower bar isconnected to the third lower bushing, and the second terminal of thisbar is connected to the first lower bushing. The first terminal of thefirst vertical bar is connected to the second lower bushing, and thesecond terminal of this bar is connected to the second upper bushing.The first terminal of the second vertical bar is connected to the thirdlower bushing and the second terminal of this bar is connected to thethird upper bushing. The first terminal of the third vertical bar isconnected to the first lower bushing and the second terminal of this baris connected to the first upper bushing. The first terminal of the firstdiagonal bar is connected to the first lower bushing and the secondterminal of this bar is connected to the second upper bushing. The firstterminal of the second diagonal bar is connected to the second lowerbushing and the second terminal of this bar is connected to the thirdupper bushing. The first terminal of the third diagonal bar is connectedto the third lower bushing and the second terminal of this bar isconnected to the first upper bushing. The first vertex of the mirror isconnected to the first upper bushing, the second vertex of the mirror isconnected to the second upper bushing, the third vertex of the mirror isconnected to the third upper bushing.

The disadvantage of this prototype is that the cell supports only oneflat mirror. The object of the invention is to increase the number offlat mirrors in a support cell, preserving the possibility toapproximate the parabolic surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1. Shows a diagram of a solar concentrator with a flexible mirrorsupport.

FIG. 2. Describes the dish of “White Cliffs” [5], which is an example ofa solar concentrator with square flat mirrors glued to the support withepoxy glass.

FIG. 3. The support cell for flat mirrors is observed in a conventionalconcentrator, the architecture of a support cell for a known solution ofthe construction of the solar concentration support.

FIG. 4. Displays a support cell for flat mirrors in the proposedconcentrator where one can observe the architecture of a support cellfor the new array of the support construction for the solarconcentrator.

FIG. 5. Shows the support cell for flat mirrors in a proposedconcentrator with adjusting nuts to position the flat mirrors toapproximate the parabolic surface.

FIG. 6. Shows a solar concentrator cell with three additional bars andthe placement of new bars, which allows increasing the number of flatmirrors up to 16.

FIG. 7. Shows a support cell for 16 flat mirrors; each cell can be usedto support 16 flat mirrors; here each mirror can be divided by fourprior smaller mirrors, obtaining up to 16 flat mirrors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention consist of approximate the parabolic surface witha large amount of flat mirrors [3] [4].

The cost of flat mirrors is less than that of parabolic or sphericalmirrors. There is a concentrator that uses a large number of small flatmirrors that approximate a parabolic surface [3] [4]. This type ofconcentrator was developed at UNAM, Mexico, in 2007. This concentratorcomprises a bar and nodes support device. Each support cell of thisconcentrator supports a triangular flat mirror of 50 mm width (FIG. 3).

To increase the number of flat mirrors and the solar concentrationfactor and decrease the cost of the solar concentrator support wepropose a new design of solar concentrator cell that supports four flatmirrors instead of one flat mirror in the known array. We have twooptions with this new array:

a) First Array

Each of the four mirrors has the same size as a mirror known array.Here, we obtain a larger concentration surface and relatively increasethe concentration power while preserving the consumption of metallicmaterials (bars and nodes) to the same level as that of the known array.

b) Second Array

The cell size does not change; we obtain four smaller mirrors than inthe known array and achieve a better adjustment of the parabolic surfaceand a better solar concentration coefficient.

The main difference of the new array is that each upper bar of the cellcontains in its center an additional upper bushing to support additionalflat mirrors. This array is novel and allows the placement of four flatmirrors instead of one of the known array. This array maintains the samenumber of bars and nodes and can increase the number of flat mirrorsfour times. This feature of the new array allows an improvement of thesolar concentration factor maintaining or lowering the cost preservinghowever, the concentration factor.

The cell proposed for the device to support the solar concentrator (FIG.4) comprises the first upper bushing (1), the second upper bushing (9),the third upper bushing (12), the fourth upper bushing (5), the fifthupper bushing (11), the sixth upper bushing (25), the first lowerbushing (22), the second lower bushing (18), the third lower bushing(20), the first upper bar (8), the second upper bar (10), the thirdupper bar (3), the first lower bar (17), the second lower bar (19), thethird lower bar (21), the first vertical bar (13), the second verticalbar (14), the third vertical bar (24), the first diagonal bar (16), thesecond diagonal bar (15), the third diagonal bar (23), the first mirror(2), the second mirror (7), the third mirror (4), the fourth mirror (6).

The first terminal of the first upper bar is connected to the firstupper bushing, and the second terminal of this bar is connected to thesecond upper bushing. The first terminal of the second upper bar isconnected to the third upper bushing, and the second terminal of thisbar is connected to the second upper bushing. The first terminal of thethird upper bar is connected to the third upper bushing, and the secondterminal of this bar is connected to the first upper bushing. The firstterminal of the first lower bar is connected to the first lower bushing,and the second terminal of this bar is connected to the second lowerbushing. The first terminal of the second lower bar is connected to thesecond lower bushing, and the second terminal of this bar is connectedto the third lower bushing. The first terminal of the third lower bar isconnected to the third lower bushing, and the second terminal of thisbar is connected to the first lower bushing. The first terminal of thefirst vertical bar is connected to the second lower bushing, and thesecond terminal of this bar is connected to the second upper bushing.The first terminal of the second vertical bar is connected to the thirdlower bushing, and the second terminal of this bar is connected to thethird upper bushing. The first terminal of the third vertical bar isconnected to the first lower bushing, and the second terminal of thisbar is connected to the first upper bushing. The first terminal of thefirst diagonal bar is connected to the second lower bushing, and thesecond terminal of this bar is connected to the first upper bushing. Thefirst terminal of the second diagonal bar is connected to the thirdlower bushing, and the second terminal of this bar is connected to thesecond upper bushing. The first terminal of the third diagonal bar isconnected to the first lower bushing, and the second terminal of thisbar is connected to the third upper bushing. The fourth upper bushing isconnected to the center of the first upper bar. The fifth upper bushingis connected to the center of the second upper bar. The sixth upperbushing is connected to the center of the third upper bar. The firstvertex of the first mirror is connected to the first upper bushing; thesecond vertex of the first mirror is connected to the fourth upperbushing; the third vertex of the first mirror is connected to the sixthupper bushing. The first vertex of the second mirror is connected to thefourth upper bushing; the second vertex of the second mirror isconnected to the second upper bushing; the third vertex of the secondmirror is connected to the fifth upper bushing. The first vertex of thethird mirror is connected to the sixth upper bushing; the second vertexof the third mirror is connected to the fourth upper bushing; the thirdvertex of the third mirror is connected to the fifth upper bushing. Thefirst vertex of the fourth mirror is connected to the sixth upperbushing, the second vertex of the fourth mirror is connected to thefifth upper bushing; the third vertex of the fourth mirror is connectedto the third upper bushing.

To adjust the mirror positions, the solar concentrator with four flatmirrors contains bushings; each bushing contains a bolt and nut (FIG.5). Nuts and bolts have the numbers 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 (FIG. 5).

Is possible to increase the number of mirrors in a cell to 16 instead offour. For this purpose, we add three additional bars (FIG. 6). The barsthat existed before are numbers 2, 3, 8, and new additional bars arenumbers 4, 6, 7.

Using these additional bars we add nine additional bushings at thepositions marked with circles (as examples, number 10 in FIG. 6), withthe opportunity to place 16 flat mirrors in a cell.

With additional bars (FIG. 6) the cell can support 16 flat mirrors. InFIG. 7 the cell is shown with 16 flat mirrors in the proposedconcentrator. The nine bushings are presented in FIG. 7 with thefollowing numbers: 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34.

Continuing this method it is possible to divide each triangular mirrorin four smaller mirrors using the following equation:

F(n)=4^(n)

where F(n) is the number of mirrors in a support cell, n is the integralnumber and n=0, 1, 2, 3 . . . etc., each n corresponding to a new array,n=0 is the known array, n=1 corresponding to the proposed array, for thepurposes of this patent application (FIG. 4), n=2 corresponding to thesecond proposal (FIG. 7).

Formula of the Invention.

The cell proposed for the device to support the solar concentrator (FIG.4) comprises the first upper bushing (1), the second upper bushing (9),the third upper bushing (12), the fourth upper bushing (5), the fifthupper bushing (11), the sixth upper bushing (25), the first lowerbushing (22), the second lower bushing (18), the third lower bushing(20), the first upper bar (8), the second upper bar (10), the thirdupper bar (3), the first lower bar (17), the second lower bar (19), thethird lower bar (21), the first vertical bar (13), the second verticalbar (14), the third vertical bar (24), the first diagonal bar (16), thesecond diagonal bar (15), the third diagonal bar (23), the first mirror(2), the second mirror (7), the third mirror (4), the fourth mirror (6),the first terminal of the first upper bar is connected to the firstupper bushing, and the second terminal of this bar is connected to thesecond upper bushing; the first terminal of the second upper bar isconnected the second upper bushing, and the second terminal of this baris connected to the third upper bushing; the first terminal of the thirdupper bar is connected to the third upper bushing, and the secondterminal of this bar is connected to the first upper bushing; the firstterminal of the first lower bar is connected to the first lower bushing,and the second terminal of this bar is connected to the second lowerbushing; the first terminal of the second lower bar is connected to thesecond lower bushing, and the second terminal of this bar is connectedto the third lower bushing; the first terminal of the third lower bar isconnected to the third lower bushing, and the second terminal of thisbar is connected to the first lower bushing; the first terminal of thefirst vertical bar is connected to the second lower bushing, and thesecond terminal of this bar is connected to the second upper bushing;the first terminal of the second vertical bar is connected to the thirdlower bushing, and the second terminal of this bar is connected to thethird upper bushing; the first terminal of the third vertical bar isconnected to the first lower bushing, and the second terminal of thisbar is connected to the first upper bushing; the first terminal of thefirst diagonal bar is connected to the first lower bushing, and thesecond terminal of this bar is connected to the second upper bushing;the first terminal of the second diagonal bar is connected to the secondlower bushing, and the second terminal of this bar is connected to thethird upper bushing; the first terminal of the third diagonal bar isconnected to the third lower bushing, and the second terminal of thisbar is connected to the first upper bushing; the first vertex of themirror is connected to the first upper bushing; the second vertex of themirror is connected to the second upper bushing; the third vertex of themirror is connected to the third upper bushing, which is distinguished:the cell contains the fourth upper bushing, the fifth upper bushing, thesixth upper bushing, the first flat mirror, the second flat mirror, thethird flat mirror and the fourth flat mirror; the fourth upper bushingis connected to the center of the first upper bar; the fifth upperbushing is connected to the center of the second upper bar; the sixthupper bushing is connected to the center of the third upper bar; thefirst vertex of the first mirror is connected to the first upperbushing; the second vertex of the first mirror is connected to thefourth upper bushing; the third vertex of the first mirror is connectedto the sixth upper bushing; the first vertex of the second mirror isconnected to the fourth upper bushing; the second vertex of the secondmirror is connected to the second upper bushing; the third vertex of thesecond mirror is connected to the fifth upper bushing; the first vertexof third mirror is connected to the sixth upper bushing; the secondvertex of the third mirror is connected to the fourth upper bushing; thethird vertex of the third mirror is connected to the fifth upperbushing; the first vertex of the fourth mirror is connected to the sixthupper bushing; the second vertex of the fourth mirror is connected tothe fifth upper bushing; the third vertex of the fourth mirror isconnected to the third upper bushing.

1-13. (canceled)
 14. Solar concentrator characterized because theproposed cell for the support device of the solar concentrator it isconformed by: a first upper bushing, the second upper bushing, the thirdupper bushing, the fourth upper bushing, the fifth upper bushing, thesixth upper bushing, the first lower bushing, the second lower bushing,the third lower bushing, the first upper bar, the second upper bar, thethird upper bar, the first lower bar, the second lower bar, the thirdlower bar, the first vertical bar, the second vertical bar, the thirdvertical bar, the first diagonal bar, the second diagonal bar, the thirddiagonal bar, the first mirror, the second mirror, the third mirror, thefourth mirror.
 15. Solar concentrator in accordance with claim 14,characterized because each bushing includes a bolt and nut for adjustingthe positions of the mirrors.
 16. Solar concentrator in accordance withclaim 14, characterized because each cell has three additional bars,nine additional bushings in the support and 16 flat mirrors.
 17. Solarconcentrator in accordance with claim 16, characterized because eachbushing includes a bolt and nut for adjusting the positions of 16 flatmirrors.
 18. Solar concentrator in accordance with claim 14,characterized because the mirrors that conform the parabola are aplurality of small mirrors that together form a large parabolic surface.19. Solar concentrator in accordance with claim 14, characterizedbecause each support cell of the solar concentrator supports atriangular flat mirror of 50 mm by side.
 20. Solar concentrator inaccordance with claim 14, characterized because each cell has a new celldesign that supports four flat mirrors.
 21. Solar concentrator, inaccordance with claim 14, characterized because the concentrationsurface becomes larger.
 22. Solar concentrator in accordance with claim14, characterized because the power from the concentrator increases. 23.Solar concentrator, in accordance with claim 14, characterized becausemetallic materials are present by means of bars and nodes.
 24. Solarconcentrator in accordance with claim 14, characterized because toincrease the number of mirrors additional bars are supplied.
 25. Solarconcentrator in accordance with claim 24, characterized because bushingsare added.
 26. Solar concentrator in accordance with claim 14,characterized because the number of mirrors is in multiples of four at nF (n)=4^(n), where n=0, 1, 2, 3, . . . etc.